Sabatieria pararticulata, Leduc, 2025

Sabatieria pararticulata sp. nov.

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Figs 8–10 View Fig View Fig View Fig , Tables 2 View Table 2 , 5 View Table 5

Diagnosis

Sabatieria pararticulata sp. nov. is characterized by body length of 1245–1490 μm, a cuticle without lateral differentiation, spiral amphidial fovea with 2 ½–2 ¾ turns, and a tail 3.3–4.0 cloacal/ anal body diameters long. Males have slightly bent, jointed, 2.6–3.0 cloacal body diameters long spicules, gubernaculum with straight dorso-caudal apophyses, and 7–9 minute, pore-like precloacal supplements. The vulva is located slightly anterior to the mid-body.

Differential diagnosis

Sabatieria pararticulata sp. nov. belongs to the praedatrix group, which is characterized by simple tubular or pore-like precloacal supplements, straight gubernacular apophyses, cuticle usually with lateral differentiation of larger, more widely-spaced dots, and amphidial fovea usually with three turns ( Platt 1985). The new species differs from all other species in this group, as well as all other species from the genus, except S. articulata Fu, Leduc & Zhao, 2019 , in having jointed spicules. The new species can be distinguished from the latter by the shorter body length (1245–1490 vs 1758–2177 μm in S. articulata ), cuticle without lateral differentiation (vs lateral differentiation present in S. articulata ), amphidial fovea with slightly fewer turns (2 ½–2 ¾ vs 3 turns in S. articulata ), fewer precloacal supplements (7–9 vs 10– 14 precloacal supplements in S. articulata ), and sperm dimorphism between the anterior and posterior testes (vs no sperm dimorphism in S. articulata ).

Etymology

The species epithet refers to the close similarity between the new species and Sabatieria articulata Fu, Leduc & Zhao, 2019 , which like the new species possesses long, jointed spicules.

Type material

Holotype

NEW ZEALAND CONTINENTAL SHELF • ♂; North Island , east coast off Hawke Bay ; 39.2186° S, 177.4321° E; depth 47 m; 5 Jun. 2023; Alan Orpin leg.; voyage KAH2303, station 16 , sandy mud sediments (92% silt/ clay); NIWA 181627 View Materials . GoogleMaps

Paratypes

NEW ZEALAND CONTINENTAL SHELF • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; NIWA 181628 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Description

Males

Body colourless, cylindrical, tapering slightly towards both extremities. Cuticle punctated, without lateral differentiation. Sparsely distributed somatic setae present along entire body length, 2–3 µm long. Slightly rounded cephalic region, set off from rest of body by slight constriction at level of amphids. Six small inner labial papillae present on lip region; six outer labial papillae in a separate circle and four cephalic setae situated further posteriorly, 0.4–0.5 cbd long. Amphidial fovea large, spiral, situated immediately posterior to cephalic setae, with 2 ½–2 ¾ turns. Buccal cavity medium-sized, cup-shaped, with slightly cuticularised walls. Pharynx muscular, partially surrounding buccal cavity, widening posteriorly but not forming true bulb. Pharyngeal gland ducts visible, connecting with pharyngeal lumen at level of amphids. Nerve ring located near half of pharynx length. Secretory-excretory gland located immediately posterior to pharynx; secretory-excretory pore situated ca 1.0 cbd posterior to nerve ring, with two small, nucleated accessory glands. Cardia short, 6–9 μm long, surrounded by intestinal tissue. Reproductive system with two opposed outstretched testes; anterior testis to the left of intestine, posterior testis to the right of intestine. Sperm cells globular to ovoid, dimorphic, slightly larger in anterior testis (5–9×14–20 µm) than posterior testis (4–5 ×9–12 µm). Spicules slightly bent, 2.6–3.0 cloacal body diameters long, with joint present at 40–45% of spicules length from the proximal end; central lamella present in proximal third to half of spicule. Gubernaculum with straight dorso-caudal apophyses. Seven to nine minute, pore-shaped precloacal supplements; posteriormost supplement 12– 33 μm from cloaca. Distance between supplements 11–27 μm, may decrease slightly anteriorly, increase slightly anteriorly, or show no obvious pattern. Precloacal seta present. Ejaculatory glands not observed. Tail conicocylindrical, with sparse subventral setae and sparse subdorsal setae, 2–3 μm long; three terminal setae, 4–6 µm long. Three caudal glands present.

Females

Similar to males but with slightly longer tail. Reproductive system with two opposed, outstretched ovaries; anterior ovary to the left of intestine, posterior ovary to the right of intestine. Spermatheca not clearly defined. Vulva located near mid-body; vaginal glands present.